Today in Cardiff, Wales, the sun rises at 5:05 AM and sets at 9:31 PM, giving the city exactly 16h 25m of daylight. That is 2 minutes shorter than yesterday—just past its peak, losing daylight slowly. With 167 days until the Winter Solstice on December 21, Cardiff is currently in its Summer season.
Golden Hour & Twilight Windows in Cardiff
For photographers, filmmakers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the morning golden hour in Cardiff runs from N/A to 5:58 AM. The evening golden hour begins at 8:38 PM and lasts until 9:31 PM.
Civil twilight—when there is still sufficient ambient light to see clearly outdoors—begins at N/A. At its temperate latitude, Cardiff experiences strong seasonal contrast. Today's 16h 25m of daylight differs significantly from its winter minimum.
Solar Noon & UV Index
Solar noon in Cardiff falls exactly at 1:18 PM, which is the moment the sun reaches its peak altitude of 60.91 above the horizon. At this specific time, the solar angle produces very high UV, typical of Cardiff in Summer. SPF 30+ is advisable for anyone spending more than 20 minutes outside.
Why Does Sunrise Shift in Cardiff?
At Cardiff's latitude of 51.4816546°, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 351.49° (N). Because of the Earth's axial tilt, this position shifts slightly every day. Sunrise and sunset times for Cardiff are calculated using advanced solar algorithms (SunCalc) based on coordinates 51.4816546, -3.1791934. Times are mathematically accurate to ±30 seconds.
Historical Sunrise in Cardiff (Past Years)
Due to the Earth's precise orbit, solar times remain highly consistent year over year. Here is a comparison of today's sunrise and sunset times in Cardiff versus 1 year and 5 years ago:
| Year | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 5:05 AM | 9:31 PM | 16h 25m |
| 2025 | 5:05 AM | 9:31 PM | 16h 25m |
| 2021 | 5:05 AM | 9:31 PM | 16h 25m |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the sun rise in Cardiff today?
In Cardiff, the sun rises at exactly 5:05 AM and sets at 9:31 PM today. This gives the city a total of 16h 25m of daylight.
When is golden hour in Cardiff today?
Today, morning golden hour in Cardiff runs from N/A to 5:58 AM. Evening golden hour begins at 8:38 PM and lasts until 9:27 PM.
Why does sunrise in Cardiff shift every day?
At Cardiff's latitude, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 351.49° (N). Because of Earth's tilt, the city is just past its peak, losing daylight slowly until the Winter Solstice on December 21.
What is the UV Index in Cardiff at solar noon?
Solar noon occurs at 1:18 PM when the sun reaches 60.91. This produces very high UV, typical of Cardiff in Summer. SPF 30+ is advisable for anyone spending more than 20 minutes outside.
Has the sunrise time in Cardiff changed compared to previous years?
Due to the Earth's precise orbit, solar times remain highly consistent year over year. Exactly one year ago in 2025, sunrise was at 5:05 AM, and five years ago in 2021, it was at 5:05 AM.